Held at the Musician’s Institute in Hollywood on October 22, 2016, Bass Player LIVE! was a fantastic celebration of those bass-guitar virtuosos known for their contributions to classic funk and rock ‘n roll. Industry pros, fans and bass-guitar junkies packed the school’s concert hall to see Porter and Sheehan presented with their Lifetime Achievement Awards; unfortunately, Tim Bogart was unable to attend due to illness.

The highlights of the star-studded evening were the live sets performed by the honored musicians, ably aided with sit-in jams by talented guests.

George Porter Jr. is a founding member of the legendary New Orleans funk group The Meters. The band’s innovative funk sound begun in the 1960s has inspired many musicians that followed. Porter Jr. does occasional reunions with the original Meters, but his participation in the Funky Meters, as well as his long-term project The Runnin’ Pardners and his studio work have all solidified his recognition as one of the music industry’s greatest bass players. He is a regular participant on the jam-band and festival scene, where his mastery of rock, funk and R&B have made him a must-see performer for fans of all ages.

After Porter accepted his Lifetime Achievement Plaque from “American Idol” star Randy Jackson, he led The Runnin’ Pardners through a set of music that spanned his illustrious career. The band played Meters classics including “Hey Pocky Way,” “Cissy Strut,” “People Say” and “Africa.” Jerry Jemmott joined the jam during “Cissy Strut” and Tal Wilkenfeld came out to play on “People Say.” Porter also had his daughter Katrina helping on backup vocals. The craziest moment of the night happened when Porter broke a string on his bass and started playing Wilkenfeld’s — while she still had her instrument strapped to her body!

William “Billy” Sheehan is a rock bassist known for his playing with Talas, Steve Vai, David Lee Roth, Mr. Big, Niacin and The Winery Dogs. He has frequently won the readers’ poll for “Best Rock Bass Player” from Guitar Player Magazine. He is known for his use of a right-hand “three-finger picking” technique, chording, two-handed tapping and controlled feedback.

Sheehan accepted his Lifetime Achievement Award from Stanley Clarke, then brought out his band that featured Mike Bennett on drums and Richie Kotzen from The Winery Dogs on guitar and vocals. The band played powerful versions of Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower,” Elvin Bishop’s “Fooled Around and Fell in Love,” and The Faces’ “I’m Losing You.”

Sheehan talked about his love and admiration for Tim Bogart before bringing out an all-star group of musicians for the final jam session. The band consisted of Ray Luzier from Korn on drums, Doug Pinnick from King’s X on vocals, Tommy Baldwin on guitar, and three other bass players — Steve Bailey, Rex Brown from Pantera and Gerald Veasley. It was a low-end sonic assault as the improvised group wailed through versions of Freddie King’s “Goin’ Down” and Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition.”

The Bass Player LIVE! concert celebration ended with a standing ovation from the audience, who shouted out their appreciation for the legendary performers who showed off their chops during this raucous annual night of music and honorary awards. We cannot wait for next year!

The Swedish heavy metal band, GHOST – POPESTAR, sold out the Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles on Thursday night and the event was packed with a happily wild crowd that was thirsty for Metal Music.

The easily recognizable, but literally unknown band, earned a Grammy for Best Metal Performance this year with their debut album “Opus Eponymous” and skyrocketed in popularity, making them number one in Sweden.

The band built up the audience’s anticipation with hymnal, church like organ music warming up the crowd before they graced the stage. The night was set for a musical séance of sorts. Their theatrics, eccentric on-stage presence and appearance are part of the mystery of the band’s repertoire. All band members wear silver demon like masks and the singer wears a prosthetic face mask with a skull face painted on it. Papa Emeritus, as the lead singer calls himself, leads the group in a dark mass of metal music. The dark symbolism on the stage also adds to the appeal of the music.

Like a midnight mass with the nameless ghouls on stage, the show got into a dark beat and the groove was sinister and melodic. The audience swayed in unison to the bands deep, hypnotic trance-inducing tunes and thrashed to fast metal punching songs. The three onstage guitarist and bassist belted out some heavy riffs at times.

As part of the show, a symbolic eating of the flesh was offered up by some girls dressed as nuns in the band. The show closed with a blast of silver confetti showering the crowd. PAPA EMERITUS went into a long good night, thanking Los Angeles. This show continues tonight.

Fitz and the Tantrums at the Greekt Theatre Friday September 14th, 2016. Photos by Chris Chavez

The Greek Theater was packed with fans both young and old for Friday nights Fitz and
The Tantrums show. It was a great surprise to see such a variety of ages come out to see the show. After releasing their self-titled third album just over a month ago, indie-pop band Fitz and The Tantrums returned to the Greek Theater stage with an animated performance that had the crowd moving around the entire time.

The band members were clearly enjoying themselves at their hometown show, Michael Fitzpatrick (Fitz) and Noelle Scaggs danced across the stage with style and confidence, pumping up the crowd. James King, the band’s saxophonist, played two different kinds of saxophones and got on the keyboard from time to time. During multiple songs, he played some amazing sax solos, which had the audience cheering and shouting in amazement.

X-Ambassadors at the Greek Theatre September 14th, 2016 Photos by Chriz Chavez

The band played a number of songs from the new album including “Roll Up” and “Burn it Down.” In addition, they played fan favorites such as “Moneygrabber” and “More than just a Dream.” Ending the night with chart-topping hit “Handclap,” but rather than closing with their current hit, they added “6 am” and the crowd-pleasing “The Walker” for a nice end to a dynamic night.

X-Ambassadors at the Greek Theatre September 14th, 2016 Photos by Chriz Chavez

Opening up for Fitz and the Tantrums was X-Ambassadors and Tyler Glenn of Neon Trees.

Setlist:

1-Get Right Back

2-Spark

3-Don’t Gotta Work It Out

4-Out of My League

5-Run It

6-Break the Walls

7-Breakin’ the Chains of Love

8-Walking Target

9-Complicated

10-Fools Gold

11-Roll Up

12-Do What You Want

13-MoneyGrabber

14-Burn It Down

15-L.O.V. (with extended jam outro)

16-HandClap

17-6 AM

18-The Walker

Fitz and the Tantrums at the Greekt Theatre Friday September 14th, 2016. Photos by Chris Chavez

IAMX, the project of esteemed Sneaker Pimp’s co-founder Chris Corner Metanoia, Corner’s sixth studio album as IAMX, is a milestone for the multifarious English composer, producer, multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and video artist. The consistently riveting set marks a timely return to musical activity for Corner, whose innovative, influential body of work has established him as one of the most potent creative forces in the world of electronic music.

Having made his initial mark as co-founder and charter member of seminal British trip-hop progenitors Sneaker Pimps, Corner has forged a
powerful and enduring creative identity as IAMX.

We had a short interview with the highly private, yet deeply thoughtful creative singer who has gone through much emotional turmoil and mental ups and downs and has found a way to funnel all of his psychological explorations into his creative passions.

The composer whose lyrics are deeply private still manages to get them across to his audience.

Q: Tell us about your new music project IAMX?

Chris Corner: IAMX is my solos project that I formed about 9 years ago, when I split from my previous band, “Sneaker Pimps”, and it’s a very private, personnel project that I started to explore my own psyche and to explore technology and to experiment with sound. Basically to be very free creatively I dropped out of the music industry to be honest that’s something that I could never get along with, the commercial industry.

I started indulging myself basically, fortunately its become something that’s financially viable. It’s very satisfying creatively.

Q: Do you like living in Los Angeles?

Chris Corner: “I love it. It’s become a love affair. Its’ been a hate affair in the past. I think may people struggle with the idea of L.A. At first. I think when I first came I really only skimmed the surface and I saw the pre-tense plastic and fake-ness of it all. When you see it so quickly that’s all you see.

Over the years the more I came back the more I got into a deeper lever. Obviously the geography is incredible and the weather is beautiful.

Los Angeles just grew on me, and now I totally love it. It’s a perfect antidote to Berlin where I lived before which was pretty harsh. Overtime its helped me with my own battles with depression and insomnia and things like that. When in Berlin and going to a new city like L.A. has really helped me.

Q: What artists influenced you growing up since your style and sound is very unique so I imagine you had some eccentric influences?

Chris Corner: Yes I did I had an influence when I was quite young because I had a very forceful Uncle who used to brain wash me with his weird music. I had things like Philip Glass, David Shovlin, he really sowed punk into me from an early age. Weird modernist, classical music and also electronic music.

I liked a lot of New Wave bands too. Really, it was quite unusual music. He put a lot of Jazz into me as well. He (my Uncle) was a big influence in my life. And I think growing up with that odd music has definitely had an impact in the way that I view music and being so creatively free. Now that is very important to me.

Q: Having been in the music industry in the past what your viewpoint on the music scene today?

Chris Corner: It’s so fragmented it’s difficult to pin down you know? It’s become the Wild, Wild West really .The internet has created opportunity for many people. It’s also shut down money making opportunities for artists. What is beautiful about it is it does allow independent artists to create niches for themselves, and to sort of create their own little universe. That’s what I’ve done withIAMX, its allowed me to do that.

I think if I didn’t have the internet and the modern model of the music industry it would have been difficult for me. But IMAX have taken every opportunity that you can along the way to create funding ideas, social networking, connecting very closely with the fan base. And that’s how we’ve done it. So, I actually like the way its gone.

There are always struggles financially for artists. You can never really feel satisfied with what you think you are owed. People (in the industry) take money from everything that you do. That’s the nature of the beast, unfortunately. It’s not nice, but you have to get used to it. At least with the new model you can have some kind of control over things.

Q: Do you think the music scene is different here in Europe than here in the states?

Chris Corner: It is different. I know there is still a reluctance to accept electronic music in America. It’s much more accepted in Europe as a very real thing, people take it seriously in an emotional sense. You can combine good song writing with electronic music and people accept that. I still feel its all reluctance,it’s just a feeling that I have.

Q: Do you get hit-up for a Sneaker Pimp reunion?

Chris Corner: We are working on a project and it’s going well. We tiptoe into it because its something that… we kind of grew apart me and Liam (Howe). We are the founders of the project. We have very different lives, so to bring it together is quite difficult.We are hoping to release something next year.

Q: Well they say (musicians say) bands are like marriages?

Chris Corner: Oh totally, marriage is a f***** up family, it’s all the same. That’s what bands are.

Q: I know you’ve said you are a very private person, but how is Chris Corner spiritually these days?

I tend to come down with spirituality, it’s what we see in the artistic brain is a tendency towards that kind of abstraction, I’m a very technical person. Science and reason is a big part of my psychology. So I can’t ever let that go. Into spirituality the relationship has always been problematic for me. One area that I could cross into spirituality is mindfulness and meditation because that has been scientifically proven to be successful. It’s something that when I was very depressed I was searching a lot.

And part of my depression was because I was searching and because I felt like I had lost my foundation. And unfortunately,religion is an easy way to give people some kind of foundation. And when you take that away you have to find something else.

And find it in psychology, in neurology and science, and those are the things that really fascinate me now. The way your brain works,and anything with mindfulness and how we create spirituality with our brains. So that side of things I can really accept. So I’m not particularly spiritual, but I will say I’m still a very emotional and thoughtful person.

I still see the power of art and abstraction.

About his new Music Video:

“The Void represents the end of an era. The completion of my own personal transformation after a 2 year battle with depression and chronic insomnia. It’s an addendum to the album Metanoia. The video is a fusion or a mashup of all the IAMX videos during this period. Some shot and directed by me, some by others.
“I see it as a celebration of my own private victory, my new found inner strength and also a symbol to my audience or anybody searching that life is extraordinary and happiness is conquerable. ”
“I’ve spent years putting together abstract visuals for our multimedia stage shows so I felt the video could also reflect this. There is no mind numbingly banal narrative, just a throbbing collage of transient images. The way my reality is and the way I love it.”

The Latin Frank Sinatra is the best way to describe singer Marc Anthony, who sold out the Microsoft Theater at LA LIVE two days last week. Marc Anthony fans seemed to be the loudest and most enthusiastic of fans who had no problem showing their love for the singer while dancing and screaming at full volume.

Anthony got the crowd roaring on first song, with a full orchestra that included Caribbean and African drums keeping the beat in the background. It did not take long to get this already riled-up crowd fired up as the singer emerged from a floor riser in quite a dramatic fashion. Anthony opened with “Mi Gente” (“My People”). He then brought down the tempo with romantic ballads, letting the crowd sing huge chunks of the songs along with him.

It was a touching moment when Anthony sang Juan Gabriel‘s song “Abarzeme Fuerte” (“Hug Me Tight”) in tribute to the recently deceased singer and songwriter that got the entire crowd singing their lungs out and leaving more than a few teary eyed.

Anthony was all over the stage as he sang, danced and led the band and the choir without batting an eye. Anthony even jumped on the drums and pounded out some beats. Anthony had a nice selection of talent playing alongside him including backup singers, multiple percussionists, three trombonists, a pair of trumpeters and a violinist. His tenor voice projected beautifully across the Microsoft Theater, which showcased his amazing operatic range and strength.

Some very lucky girls got hugs and kisses from the Latin singer, causing a frenzy in the audience. Anthony was covered in lipstick kisses midway through the show.

Anthony went from ballads to salsa, shining brightly with a passion that was unbounded. “We having a good time? It’s Friday night, we’re going back to 20 years, all the ballads are done, this sitting-down shit don’t work no more. From now on it’s salsa.” At that point, the aisles were crowded with fans dancing and singing along.

He went on in between songs with his most important message of the evening,

“I want to thank everyone for coming out, I usually have something to say. I’m absolutely speechless right now.” “There are more of us. We are Latinos — all of us. After this election, they will never f**** with us again.”

Closed the show with Hector Lavoe’s song “Mi Gente,” Anthony was draped in Puerto Rican and Mexican flags in a huge and beautiful tribute to his native Puerto Rico that embraced all the nations.

Brian Wilson presents Pet Sounds: The Final Performances with special guests Al Jardine and Blondie Chaplin at Hollywood Pantages on May 26 and the Santa Barbara Bowl May 28.

Music legend Brian Wilson has added another slate of new show dates to his world tour to celebrate and perform the iconic album Pet Sounds for a final time, in honor of its 50th anniversary. Originally released on May 16, 1966, Pet Sounds is universally hailed as one of the greatest albums of all time. With previously announced dates selling out in record time, Wilson and his band joined by former bandmates Al Jardine and Blondie Chaplin bring the Pet Sounds 50th Anniversary World Tour to the Hollywood Pantages on Friday, May 26. Tickets go on saleFriday, October 14 via Ticketmaster.com.

Fans can expect a live performance of Pet Sounds in its entirety, as well as top hits and fan favorites spanning his 54-year career with The Beach Boys and as a solo artist. For up-to-date information, please visit www.BrianWilson.com.

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of Pet Sounds, Capitol/UMe released special expanded editions of the recorded masterpiece, as well as a range of exclusive Pet Sounds merchandise. Pet Sounds(50th Anniversary Edition) is available now in several configurations, including a 4CD/Blu-ray Audio collectors edition presented in a hardbound book, featuring the remastered original album in stereo and mono, plus hi res stereo, mono, instrumental, and 5.1 surround mixes, session outtakes, alternate mixes, and previously unreleased live recordings; a 2CD and digital deluxe edition pairing the remastered album in stereo and mono with highlights from the collectors edition’s additional tracks; and remastered, 180-gram LP editions of the album in mono and stereo with faithfully replicated original artwork.

Gary Clark Jr. has announced an additional date his current tour. Billed as “A Very Special Evening With Gary Clark Jr.,” the December shows feature the singer, songwriter, and guitarist performing in rare, solo settings, including a newly announced show at The Theater at theAce Hotel in downtown Los Angeles on December 1st. Tickets go on sale to the general public tomorrow, October 7th,HERE.

These special shows will reveal a very different side of Clark’s diverse oeuvre. The nuance of Clark’s solo performances are no less powerful and soulful than the flash of the full electric experience but with a completely different set of sonic textures –subtle and gritty– yet deeply personal and intimate and not to be missed. Please see below for dates.

In other news, Clark will perform his new song “Take Me Down” on Jimmy Kimmel Live!tonight. The song is featured in the new film Deepwater Horizon from Lionsgate’s Summit Entertainment, as well as on the movie’s original soundtrack titled,Deepwater Horizon Original Motion Picture Soundtrack – Music by Steve Jablonsky Featuring an Original Song by Gary Clark Jr. Tune in to ABC stations at11:35 pm EST/PST, and 10:35 pm CT.

Clark wraps up his fall tour this week which included a triumphant homecoming show in his new home of Los Angeles this past Saturday at The Greek Theater where he delivered a typically incendiary show to an adoring audience for two hours. Much more news to be revealed soon.

Rockabilly line up for Octoberfest includes: Gamblers Mark, Sandbox Bullies, Maureen and the Mercury Five, Rayford Brothers and the Crown City Bombers to name a few. Two full days of food, family and fun Oct 23&23

DTLA Oktoberfest will take place Saturday, October 22nd from 12pm-8pm and Sunday, October 23rd from 12pm-8pm. The event is taking place in Pershing Square- 532 S. Olive Street, Los Angeles CA 90013. General admission is free, and patrons will have the option to purchase beer tasting flights & pints from LA based brewers, sausages, pretzels, cheese platters & more from select vendors. Live music, interactive activities and local vendors will also be on-site to add to this family friendly event.

DTLA Oktoberfest is an Ez Event Production, in conjunction with Pershing Square www.OktoberfestDTLA.com for more information and to pre-purchase tasting packages.

South Korean global icon and award winning artist CL will be embarking on her first solo concert tour across the United States and Canada following her long awaited American debut. The HELLO BITCHES TOUR 2016 kicks off Saturday, October 29 at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City, and will make stops in a number of major North American markets this fall including Los Angeles at Microsoft Theater on Friday, November 4 2016. Tickets go on sale beginning at 12:00 PM on Friday, September 30 at www.axs.com and www.CLTOUR2016.com.

CL began as the leader of the explosive female idol group 2NE1 in 2009 that went on to win 66 awards and receive 84 nominations across Asia and around the world. With their first full length album To Anyone reaching #7 on the Billboard World Albums Chart in 2010, 2NE1’s global recognition continued to rise with winning MTV Iggy’s Best New Band in the World Award in 2011 with their second mini album reaching #2 on the U.S. iTunes Album Chart in the same year. In 2012 they became the only female Korean idol group to hold an arena show in North America with the NEW EVOLUTION GLOBAL TOUR on the heels of their hit song “I Am the Best” that solidified their worldwide popularity receiving radio play in major cities in the U.S. and featured in a Microsoft Commercial aired across the nation. Developing individually as a singer, rapper, songwriter, dancer, and model, CL’s solo activities have only increased her global presence. CL made her solo debut with “The Baddest Female” in 2013 that was later nominated for Song of the Year and won Best Female Solo Dance Performance at the MNET Asian Music Awards. Her next solo track, “MTBD (Mental Breakdown)” was incorporated into 2NE1’s next full length studio album, Crush (2014), which peaked at #61 on the U.S. Billboard 200 Chart and #2 on the U.S. Billboard World Albums Chart during which time it was announced she would be preparing for her U.S. solo debut with Scooter Braun as her manager. Since then she has teamed up to feature on Skrillex’s “Dirty Vibe” and Diplo’s “Doctor Pepper” along with a feature on YG label mate PSY’s promotional track, “Daddy.”

Ace Frehley inspired numerous up-and-coming rockers to pick up the guitar. He is also listed as a major influence by several renowned contemporary rock guitarists. Frehley is, of course, best known as a founding member lead guitarist for KISS, one of the world’s top hard rock bands of all time. Playing the popular character of ‘the spaceman,’ Frehley played with the group from its inception until 1982, then rejoined the band from 1996 through 2002. Frehley has also enjoyed a successful solo career, producing tunes such as 1978’s rambunctious hit “New York Groove.

January 29, 2017

Doors 6pm. Enuff Z’Nuff 8:00pm. Ace Frehley 9:00pm.

$38 / $48 / $58 + applicable fees

If you purchase a ticket at a table you are required to purchase dinner. Minimum spend is $25.00 per person. You must arrive by 7pm.